Illustration of WhatsApp’s tested floating bottom navigation bar design on Android beta.
WhatsApp is testing a redesigned bottom navigation bar on Android that replaces the app’s full-width bottom edge treatment with a floating bar that has rounded corners. The new element sits slightly separated from the bottom of the screen, giving the interface a lighter, more layered look than the current layout. The test is tied to Android beta build 2.26.38.10 and is not confirmed for stable release.
A floating bottom bar appears in WhatsApp’s Android beta
WhatsApp’s bottom navigation on Android no longer runs flush across the full width of the screen. Instead, it appears as a detached strip with rounded ends and a small gap from the bottom edge. That makes this a noticeable UI shift even though the rest of the app remains broadly familiar.
The test is specific to WhatsApp on Android, not iPhone, and the current provenance points to beta build 2.26.38.10. An earlier related build, 2.26.37.6, has also been referenced alongside the redesign, which suggests WhatsApp has been iterating on the navigation treatment across recent beta development. For users and operators who watch WhatsApp changes closely, the immediate takeaway is visual rather than functional: the app’s main navigation area is being reworked, but this is not yet a product-wide release.
Closer to iPhone, but still Android in styling
The redesign moves WhatsApp’s Android interface visually closer to the way navigation is presented on iPhone, especially in how the bar stands apart from the bottom edge instead of blending into it. But the styling is still described as Android-native Material design, not a copy of Apple’s current visual language. The iPhone-like part is the separated, floating presentation; the Android part is the Material styling that keeps the bar aligned with WhatsApp’s existing Android interface.
In practical terms, readers should think of this as a navigation and presentation update, not a full app overhaul. The core purpose appears to be to modernize how the navigation area looks while keeping the app recognizable for existing users. In light mode, the floating effect is more obvious; in dark mode, it is subtler, which makes the redesign feel less dramatic depending on how the app is being used.
Rollout scope and tab layout are still unsettled
What remains unclear is how far this test goes beyond the new shape and spacing of the bar. The redesign is still limited to beta or internal testing, with no confirmed stable rollout timeline, and the final tab structure does not appear settled.
For now, Android users should expect a visual navigation refresh in testing, not a confirmed change to tab order, gestures, or broader app behavior. If this ships more broadly, Android users could see a cleaner way to move between key parts of WhatsApp, which matters for business users and operators who jump between conversations and other app sections throughout the day. But there is still no clear confirmation that tab ordering, navigation behavior, or gestures change beyond the visual treatment.
The floating bar also arrives alongside other interface experiments in WhatsApp beta, which shows the company is still iterating on the app’s overall presentation. For now, the clearest expectation is a visual refresh to Android navigation first, with wider availability and any deeper navigation changes still unresolved.
Disclaimer: This article was created with the assistance of AI. Images are for illustrative purposes only.
About the author
Samarth Agrawal is an AI and technology professional who writes about WhatsApp, automation, and emerging AI trends. He focuses on simplifying complex tech updates into practical insights for businesses, creators, and everyday users
